Bottle seal for bottle filling machines



June 2, 1953 e. N. MEYER 2,640,640

BOTTLE SEAL FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES Filed .my 2:5, 1947 Fle. I

INVENToR.

GEORG: L. IY. MEW-:R

ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE BOTTLE SEAL FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINESv George L. N. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 23, 1947, Serial No. 762,931

5 Claims. l

This invention relates to bottle filling machines, and more particularly to a bottle seal to be used in connection with bottle ller valves.

In bottle filling machines heretofore devised, the filler valve was a separate unit which was inserted in the filler bowl individually. The bottle seal which is interposed between the filler valve and the bottle was an integral part of the valve element, and hence to change the bottle seal when that unit became worn out, necessitated emptying the ller bowl and withdrawing the ller valve. The valve could then be disassembled and the bottle seal replaced. This operationrequired considerable time and necessitated the complete stoppage of filling during the change-over period.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a iiller valve having a seal which may be replaced without disassembling the valve.

Another object is to provide a bottle seal which will cushion the entrance of the bottle into the valve. l

A further object is to provide a bottle seal which will reduce the time required to change the seal.

A still further object is to provide a ller valve in which bottle seals may be changed without draining the filler bowl.

A still further object is to reduce the breakage of bottles in bottle iilling machines.

A still further object is to provide a filler valve having an improved bottle seal.

Other objects will become apparent upon consideration of the following specication, which, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrate a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse cross section through a ller bowl, showing the improved ller valve in place therein;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the bottle seal and retainer ring; and

Figure 3 is a disassembled view of the three parts constituting the bottle seal assembly.

Referring to the drawings, the iiller valve comprises a cage I having openings Il therethrough to permit the entry of liquid, the cage extending from a seat I2 in the base of the bowl I3 to an elevation above the high liquid level in the bowl. The lower end of the cage contains a liquid valve I5 having a hollow stem I6 for the passage of gas, the stem I6 extending above the maximum level of the liquid in the bowl.

The upper end of the stem IB is guided by a block I'I, which is attached to the stem I6 and ts in a bearing in the upper end of the cage I6. A spring I9 urges the block I'I and the valve I5 into uppermost position, with the valve I5 open to permit the flow of liquids around the valve and downwardly along the exterior of a tube 20 into a bottle 2|. Flow of gas through the tubes I6 and 20 into the bottle 2| is controlled by a valve 23 covering the upper end of the tube I6. A spring 25 urges the valve 23 into open position. The valve 23 is actuated by a cam 26, while the valve I5 is moved to open position by gas pressure beneath the valve I5. Both the valves I5 and 23 are closed by movement of the cam 26.

yA wirev screen 21 is mountedin a valve seat 28, below the liquid valve I5, and prevents the iiow of liquid downwardly into the bottle when the pressure within the bottle equals the pressure in the bowl.l

For further details of the operation of the valves I5 and 23l see U. S. Patent #2,063,326 to George L.' N. Meyer, dated December 8, 1936, entitled Filler Valve.

A bottle seal retainer ring 30 is mounted on the lower end of the ller valve. The retainer ring 30 includes an annular shoulder 32 engageable by a U-shaped fork 33 which holds the entire iiller valve assembly in place through a bolt 35. The retainer ring 30 has a centrally located aperture 37 extending axially through the ring, which receives a rubber sealing ring 40 having the same outside diameter as the inside diameter 31 of the retainer. The sealing ring 40 contains an axial aperture 42 which receives a washer 44 which extends above the top of the ring 46 and seats in a corresponding aperture in the lower surface of the valve seat 28 to center the sealing ring assembly with the remainder of the iiller valve. The lower portion of the sealing ring 46 has an enlarged aperture 46 of suiiicient diameter to accommodate the neck of the bottle 2l entering the filler valve, and has 1a skirt 4l having a frustro-conical surface 48 to guide the bottle into the ller valve.

Since the outside diameter of the sealing ring 40 is equal to the inside diameter of the sealing ring retainer 30 the ring 46 is retained within the sealing ring retainer 30 by friction and forms an effective seal against the escape of liquid and gas. To replace the seal 40 it is merely necessary to pull downwardly on the skirt 4l and replace the seal 40 by inserting a new one in lieu thereof without the necessity of emptying the filler bowl.

It will be realized that the hereinbefore described form of the invention is to be taken merely as the preferred embodiment thereof, and that various changes in size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

That which is claimed as new and is desired to be secured-bv United StateseLetters Patent 1. In a bottle filling machine of the character described, a iiller bowl, a ller valvenin said bowl, a retaining ring in `engagenfient with said ller valve, means to secure'saidringagain'st said iiller valve to retain the valve in the bowl, a bottle seal mounted within saidzringuinsfrictional engagement therewith and having an aperture therein for the passage-off:liquidftherethrough, a skirt on said bottle sealfiextending below the lower edge of Athe retainer ring to form a- `guide, for bottles entering said valve.

"f2."1n aiy bottle lling machine 4of 'thechara'cter described@ iiller bowl, a'ller valve in said bowl, .1a retaining ring in engagement with saidller vvalve; meansJtosecurelsaid ring :against said *filler valve `to' retain. `the,valve` in"the1bow,l,'a :bottler seal mounted' in said, rngand" having an i outside ,diameter equal: to theinsidej 'diameter of the ring'whereby the seal is, retained inthe ring `by` friction only, an` aperture throughsaidzbottle seal' to pern'litthe passage-'of liquid therethrough, and a skirt on the' Alower end of. saidl bottleY seal extending' over isaid retaining ring to'form a 'guide' for bottles* entering the"ller valve.

3911ia` bottle iiilling machine -of 'the 'character described, a filler bowl, a filler valvein saidbowl, a" retaining ring 'inengagementi with s'ad ,filler "valvefmeans'to 'secure said nrirleegainst said lfiller `valve to' retains-fthe `valveirrthe bowl, a-

/sealing element 'v having a'frictionf't within saidv ring, said sealing element having anY openingto receiveg--acventtube and"to'provide a, passage wav-for"4 Yliquid""between "the'ventztube and "the 4 element, and a bottle sealing surface on the lower side of the sealing element.

4. In a bottle filling machine of the character described, a filler bowl, a ller valve in said 5 bowl, a retaining ring in engagement with said filler valve, means to secure said ring against said ller valve to retain the valve in the bowl, a sealing element having a friction fit within said'ring, said sealingu element :havingien opening to', receive avent'tubeand to, provide a passage way for liquid between the Vent tube and 1 `the element, a bottle sealing surface on the lower side of the sealing element, and a skirt formed *on Vthe lower side of the sealing element to form Laguide for bottles entering the filler valve.

f5.: In a `bottle iilling machine of the character described, a filler bowl, a iiller valve in said 2Jbowl,=air-retaining ring in engagement with said llerwalve, means to secure said ring against said ller valve to retain the valve in the bowl, a sealing element having a friction t .within saidrng; said sealingelement' having an openr ing to receive aventtube and-to provide apassage wayif'or r'liquid'between the vent; tube and.`the .l element; a "metal "tube carriedin and' extending through said"opening,; and abottle sealing surfacel 14on the lower" edge of said element at`the lower edge` of the said' tube.

" GEORGE L.iN. UlVliYER..

fneferensfcaea -in 'the fue of this patent ,UNITED STATES PATENTS Number t s Name Date lRev 13,197 Strasburger Jan. .17,119.11 609,986 'Danziger, 2Aug. 30,' 1898 968,898 Torpy .f;Aug;30, 1910 971,962 :Bastian '.Oct.;4,;1910 1,572,150 Kiefer -Feb..9,v';1'926 2,063,326 :Meyer -L .Decaf 8,;@1936 .40 2,461,633 ;-Meyer. ;Apr;,:l9;1949 L2,499,149 .Lgippold Febr. 28, 1950 2,501,511 Grosbois Mar. 21,.'1950 

